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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To shower while baby sleeps in bedroom

231 replies

JodieWhittakersBraces · 05/11/2018 07:03

We've had our first baby and my DH is back to work today after paternity leave. This may seem like a stupid question but we seem to disagree about whether I can take a shower while the baby sleeps in the bedroom without my having a baby monitor to take into the bathroom. I think I should be ok if the baby's upstairs, I'm in and out asap - potentially leaving the bedroom and bathroom doors open. He reckons I need to take a baby monitor into the bathroom (which we haven't yet purchased).

Please be gentle, Mumsnet, we are first time parents Smile

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 05/11/2018 07:24

Absolutely fine to just have a shower. My baby usually naps in his buggy in the kitchen while I shower in the ensuite 2 floors up. If he wakes up and cries, which he never does, he'll be fine for a few minutes.

Oysterbabe · 05/11/2018 07:25

The other option if the baby is awake is to sit them in their bath seat and have them in the bathroom with you.

DartmoorDoughnut · 05/11/2018 07:26

If you’re worried pop your baby in a bouncer in the bathroom, that’s what I did with my first Flowers

MaryCraven · 05/11/2018 07:26

I never had a monitor. You’ll be fine, just have a shower xx

StarfishSandwich · 05/11/2018 07:27

DS is 8 weeks. Thankfully our house is tiny (rarely do I use that phrase) so during the day with all the doors open I feel fine pottering about if he’s napping. Usually he comes into the bathroom with me but that’s mostly because he loves the noise of the shower pump!

Littlecaf · 05/11/2018 07:28

Yes do it. It’s one of my baselines for the day - having a shower. I have to do it to be a good parent for the rest of the day otherwise it’s awful. I even leave DC3 downstairs in front of Numberblocks and DS1 I’m his cot if I need to. Have done it since day dot. They are both fine.

Petalflowers · 05/11/2018 07:29

Baby and you will be fine. What’s the worst that can happen, baby wakes up. Even if he/she cries, doesn’t stop you finishing your shower.

Congratulations on your first baby.

Bowerbird5 · 05/11/2018 07:29

They didn’t have monitors when my first two were born and I didn’t bother buying one for the other two. It is fine. Ask him how his mum managed. Believe me you will hear if baby wakes.

Congratulations.

LipstickTraces · 05/11/2018 07:29

I leave my twins sleeping to shower all the time. We don’t even have a monitor yet as they are sleeping in our room.

HoppingPavlova · 05/11/2018 07:31

I don’t understand? What is meant to happen with the baby if you pop into the shower, it combusts? Does anyone sit beside a baby 24/7. Surely people go to the loo and do stuff that needs to be gone when they sleep or was it just me?

Have a shower. Go to the toilet when you need to. Make a cuppa when you can fit it in. All good, nothing bad will happen.

kaytee87 · 05/11/2018 07:31

I used to take ds into the bathroom in his bouncer if he was awake. If the baby is recently fed and changed and fast asleep then just leave the doors open.
Baby monitor will end up not working due to the steam.

PurdysChocolate · 05/11/2018 07:32

Have your shower. Like others I've never owned a baby monitor either.

Stephisaur · 05/11/2018 07:32

I asked my Mum this same question!

She said that she used to do it with us, and that was before the days of en suite bathrooms. You’ll be in and out quickly, and close by if baby needs you.

Assuming you aren’t far from where baby is sleeping, then you’ll hear them cry anyway.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 05/11/2018 07:33

Never used a monitor for any of mine. If baby is asleep, leave them be, if awake put in bouncy chair in bathroom.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 05/11/2018 07:34

What's the worst that can happen? The baby will cry for a few minutes. Unfortunately there are going to be times that this happens. If you're at the toilet and they cry you are going to finish before going to get them. If you've got to answer the door for something important you might need to leave them to cry for a minute. You need the odd cup of tea etc which might not be safe to drink with the baby on you. Unless you're taking a looooong shower the baby will be fine and is unlikely to wake up anyway. In and byway few weeks they will have much more of a pattern, and will also be content to stay awake by themselves for a few minutes so this soon won't be an issue anyway

ogglet · 05/11/2018 07:35

Jump in that Shower OP  when I was feeling worried I would bring the Moses basket into the bathroom with Me whilst she was sleeping x

Kintan · 05/11/2018 07:35

My baby would only sleep on me for about the first six months, so if yours is asleep in a cot, make the most of it and enjoy your shower!

gerispringer · 05/11/2018 07:36

You are allowed to shower and go to the toilet etc without taking the baby.The police won’t come round. Baby will be fine. Enjoy!

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 05/11/2018 07:36

Also popped baby in bouncer next to the shower sometimes. The steam was good if they had a cold (believe the advice may have changed on this now?)

gothefcktosleep · 05/11/2018 07:37

  1. I would, particularly at that age

  2. if you have a non sleeper (like me) I simply put the baby in the bouncer and place in the bathroom with me - sing constantly as you wash. I’m like a low rent Dave Benson Philips. As she’s got older I often get the playmat and lie her on that as an alternative. But really only because she’s quite intolerant of me being out of her line of sight.

brookshelley · 05/11/2018 07:38

DC1 would scream and cry if left alone in bouncer so I could only ever shower while the little angel was asleep.

gothefcktosleep · 05/11/2018 07:38

My baby would only sleep on me for about the first six months, so if yours is asleep in a cot, make the most of it and enjoy your shower!

This, 100%

FissionChips · 05/11/2018 07:40

I’ve never taken a baby or any aged child into the bathroom with me nor used a baby monitor.
A baby won’t explode if you leave it for 5 mins.

Rachelover40 · 05/11/2018 07:40

I always bathed or showered when little one was asleep. Used to be about 11 a.m.

Why should you not?

kaytee87 · 05/11/2018 07:42

@AmIRightOrAMeringue steam is fine for a cold just not for croup 

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